Bklink: Brooklyn Diary

The Daily News has a new feature called "Brooklyn Diary" and one of today's entries deals with whether the art collecting done by the wife of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz at the Brooklyn Museum Ratner Gala violated any city rules. "...it raised questions the city Conflict of Interest Board had never before considered...A source said the agency has never ruled on issues involving an official's spouse, but suggested that had Markowitz taken the multi-colored artworks himself, it would have likely been a conflict. 'This is kind of a tricky one,' said the source, who added the agency was aware of Jamie's newfound art collection but refused to say whether there was investigation into the possible conflict."--NYDN

South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance is Offiical

The South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance--whose formation we noted in an exclusive report here on March 5 and whose name and status we updated last Thursday--has officially announced itself. It involves groups from Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and Red Hook's Columbia Waterfront District. A press release from SoBNA went out last night and it has a temporary website here. The release says it has been:

created to introduce community-based planning. The primary goal of the SoBNA is to build sound neighborhoods through community-based planning that engages the residents, small businesses, elected officials, city government and developers. We are committed to supporting the unique character of each of our neighborhoods, enhancing the quality of life for our residents through cooperative planning for much needed mixed-use development. It is our goal to advocate for our communities through civic involvement, education and community building.

Groups that a members of SoBNA are: Baltic & Warren Neighbors, Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, Inc., Cobble Hill Association, Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association, Committee for the Historic Integrity of Cobble Hill, CORD, South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation, Union Sackett Block Association and Warren Street Block Association. Two Gowanus groups--Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus and Friends of Bond--are absent from list. A local activist we spoke with on Saturday told us the new Alliance intends to be politically active and wants to make it presence felt in the 2009 local elections. The group may be particularly active in rezoning issues. It will be interesting to watch, as some of the groups have been involved in community activism about some of the most controversial developments and issues in neighborhoods such as Carroll Gardens and Gowanus and do not always see eye-to-eye on them.

GL Exclusive: South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance Ready to Go

Several weeks ago, we carried the exclusive news that a new coalition of South Brooklyn neighborhood groups (particularly ones concentrated in the Carroll Gardens and Gowanus area) was forming to try to increase their clout on controversial community issues and to try to organize politically for the 2009 local elections. The neighborhoods are facing a large number of controversial development projects that would, together, add thousands of new residents over the next 3-5 years if approved. The group was set to announce itself at the community meeting held in Carroll Gardens last week about the Clarett Group's development at 340 Court Street, but the developer said it would back out of the meeting if the other items were added to the agenda. In any case, GL has learned that the name of the group is the South Brooklyn Neighborhood Alliance. Groups that have been involved in meetings and discussions include the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association (one of the most established neighborhood groups), CORD (which was founded over the issue of 360 Smith Street), the Union-Sackett Block Association (founded around the 340 Court Street development), Friends Of Bond (active in many Gowanus issues, including the Toll Brothers proposal), FROGG (a longtime group of Gowanus activists active in rezoning, the Whole Foods project, the Toll Brothers development and the issue of cleaning up the Gowanus Canal) and the Baltic Warren Neighbors Group. Other groups have been involved in discussions too and a formal announcement of the new group is pending, GL has learned.

Ratner Gala Fun Continues: Marty's Wife is "Brooklyn Booster"

There is more coverage of that Murakami swag story that broke online at Radar about how Borough President Marty Markowitz's wife "hoarded" Murakami swag after the Bruce Ratner Gala on Thurdsay. Jotham Sederstrom follows up in today's Daily News. Here's a sample:

Who knew the first lady of Brooklyn was also its biggest booster? Jamie Markowitz, the wife of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, scooped up eight pricey fiberglass place mats - works of art by pop artist Takashi Murakami - set aside for guests at a glitzy Brooklyn Museum gala. The limited-edition Technicolor mats, which have sold for $1,000 on eBay after a similar event, were included in a grab bag of pricey freebies for guests celebrating the opening of the artist's three-month exhibition last Thursday.

"It's a little true," Markowitz laughed Sunday when asked about an item on RadarOnline.com that painted her as a tad greedy. Radar reported that when several guests who didn't get a mat asked for one of her eight, she replied, "You guys really should have acted faster. This is Brooklyn!"

To another, she said, "You snooze, you lose, buddy. Forget it." ...Markowitz wasn't the only one making a mad dash for the costly dining accessories, according to a witness at the glamorous ball.

Story confirmed, apparently.

Ratner Post-Gala: Did Marty's Wife "Hoarde" Murakami Swag?

The Brooklyn Museum Bruce Ratner Gala continues to produce interesting stories. Radar, which always entertains us, but doesn't often offer up Brooklyn fodder, is doing so in a big way with a story about the wife of a certain Brooklyn Borough President allegedly cornering the market on Murakami swag after the big, controversial event. To wit:

Without a doubt, the person who got the most out of Thursday night's Takashi Murakami retrospective opening at the Brooklyn Museum of Art was Jamie Snow, the wife of Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz. She grabbed eight of the limited-addition Murakami technicolor fiberglass place mats that were being given out as gifts to party-goers—mats that fetched up to $1,000 on eBay after similar events. And she was wasn't about to give even one of them up...The mats were intended to be taken by seated guests, but after wolfing down dinner, the enterprising Snow, perhaps sensing a business opportunity, rounded up eight of the mats and rushed over to Murakami to have them signed. When party-goers who ended up placemat-less asked her if she would kindly relinquish one, Snow snidely remarked, "You guys really should have acted faster. This is Brooklyn," and skulked away.

Subsequent attempts to secure a mat from the hoarder, including one made by an elderly, charming Nigerian fellow, were met with the following variety of responses: "No," "Nope!" "I can't hear you!" "You snooze you lose, buddy," "Forget it!" and, in what can only be considered a charming nod to the borough her husband represents, the always effective, "I won't say anything but I will stick my tongue out at you." (Naomi Campbell walked away with six of them when the same party was thrown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.)

When Markowitz himself was asked to intervene—he is, after all, purportedly a politician, and settling minor squabbles is his mandate—he responded like a man who had seen it before: "Just try being married to her."

A fascinating story and one that we suspect will have "legs" as they say in the business.

Brooklyn for Peace

Blogger Brit in Brooklyn attended yesterday's peace rally and sent us this photo of Brooklyn for Peace members participating. More rally shots at Brit in Brooklyn. The Times story on the march says that it "fell short" because not as many demonstrators as hoped where there. We can say, however, that Brooklyn was in the house.

[Photo courtesy of Brit in Brooklyn]

Brooklinks: Another Spitzer Special Brooklyn Blogger Edition

• NYS Politics: A Brand New Day [DITHOB]
• On Spitzer [Brooklyn Junction]
• What Will Be Spitzer's Second Act? [OTBKB]
• It's Not Unusual: NY Screwing You [Duffield St. Underground]
• "They Tell Me This Spitzer Guy Resigned" [Brooklyn Streets]
• Two Missed Morsels in the Feeding Frenzy [Brooklyn Optimist]
• Real Estate "Angst" About Paterson to Extend to Atlantic Yards [AYR]
• Spitzer's Ho Ho Ho [Left in Bay Ridge]
• Spitzer Resigns [Bay Ridge Rover]
• David Paterson Welcomed by LGBTQ Community [Fading Ad Blog]
• Eliot Spitzer, Monster and Criminal, Resigns [Bay Ridge Blog]

Brookbit: Markowitz Speaks on Spitzer

Borough President Marty Markowitz's statement on the resignation of Gov. Eliot Spitzer: "In what can only be called a personal failure and tragedy, Governor Spitzer leaves office with great promise unfulfilled...I join all Brooklynites and New Yorkers in supporting our soon-to-be-Governor David Paterson. David and I served together in the Senate, and I have no doubt this Harlemite born in Brooklyn will prove to be a very effective Governor—by bringing people together, working with both Democrats and Republicans, and restoring people’s faith and trust in Albany."--GL Inbox

Brooklinks: Special Client 9 Brooklyn Edition

Some reactions from Brooklyn bloggers to the Eliot Spitzer scandal:

• Eliot Spitzer Inspires New Song: "Love Client No. 9" [Bay Ridge Blog]
• Client 9 [Sustainable Flatbush]
• Even Governors Get Lonely [White in Bay Ridge]
• Another Moralist Bites the Dust [Brooklyn Optimist]
• Jackass #10 [Bad Advice]
• Whither Spitzer? [Self-Absorbed Boomer]
• On Spitzer [Brooklyn Junction]
• Prostitutes and Congestion Pricing [No Land Grab]
• The Desire for Humiliation [Full Permission Living]
• We Were Kidding at the Time About the Governor [Esthetic/Aesthetic]
• Slopers Excited About "the First Black and the First Blind Governor" [OTBKB]
• Client 9 from Outer Space [DITHOB]

Bklink: Not About Carroll Gardens Development

A Carroll Gardens couple isn't sleeping together right now because the husband supports Sen. Hillary Clinton and the wife is with Sen. Barack Obama. The wife has told the huband he won't be getting anything unless he switches sides. We have no idea how the story starting making the rounds.--Brooklyn Streets, Carroll Gardens

GL Exclusive: New South Brooklyn Neighborhood Coalition Forming

A new South Brooklyn neighborhood coalition is in the works in Carroll Gardens, Gowanus and Red Hook to push issues on which there might be common ground. A private meeting took place on February 27 to discuss the mechanics of setting up the group and to work on developing a mission statement. Several groups, including the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, CORD and the Union-Sackett Block Association, as well as a group from the Columbia Street Waterfront District of Red Hook were involved in the initial planning meeting. The coalition, which would include a variety of groups that don't always agree on issues, would use the Queens Civic Congress as one of its models. An email we saw says the goal is "to form a coalition to better have a say in what type of zoning and building our community will get from City Planning." A variety of new neighborhood groups have formed over the last year, particularly in Carroll Gardens and Gowanus. In many case, specific development projects have been catalyst.

Someone familiar with the organizing effort confirmed that planning is underway and told GL that "A lot of us have felt for a long time that all of the smaller groups must join up...we all want to unite as 'one' neighborhood." The email about the effort mentioned that one goals is to try to have some influence in the 2009 municipal elections and that the coalition will grow beyond some of the core organizations involved in organizing it. "More groups plan to join this coalition for considerable voting power during our next local elections," the email said. "The candidates and this election will be a big focus for this coalition so its importance could be considerable."

Bklink: Markowitz on Top?

"A new poll on the 2009 mayoral race produced a startling result yesterday: Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz's enormous popularity in his home borough has propelled him to the top of the seasoned Democratic field. "It goes against conventional wisdom," said Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff. The Beep grabbed 18 percent, ahead of Rep. Anthony Weiner, with 13 percent; City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; at 11; city Comptroller Bill Thompson and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, both at 9; and long-shot Queens City Councilman Tony Avella, at 4 percent." Miringoff concludes the race is "as wide open as you can get."--NYP

Bklink: Hassidic Candidate

"A Williamsburg community activist who would be the first Hasidic Jew on the City Council if elected has decided to run for David Yassky's seat. Isaac Abraham, a hardware store owner and tenants advocate, said he is responding to "very strong" pressure from friends, colleagues and community residents to seek the post Yassky must vacate in 2009 due to term limits...Abraham is the fourth candidate to announce plans to run for Yassky's seat."--NYDN

Torment, Harassment & Campaign Work at Borough Hall?

Borough President Marty Markowitz's former communications director has filed a lawsuit alleging that staffers on the city payroll were used to do campaign work and that there was "inappropriate sexual activity" by four employees and that she was discriminated against. The Daily News reported the story earlier this week and the Brooklyn Paper reports it today. Borough President Marty Markowitz's office denies the charges:

“These unfounded claims should be taken in context — they are from a disgruntled former employee who was dismissed,” the statement read. “If served with court papers, we will address these baseless allegations in court. This office stands by its excellent EEO [Equal Employment Opportunity] record.”

The suit was filed by Regina Weiss, 50, who was forced from her job in 2006.

Bill de Blasio Running for Brooklyn Borough President

City Council Member Bill de Blasio made it official on Sunday: He is running for Brooklyn Borough President. Mr. de Blasio was widely expected to run. He joins Council Member Charles Barron in the race. Others, including Council Member Dominic Recchia are also expected to enter the race to replace Marty Markowitz. Mr. Markowitz, in turn, is expected to seek another office. Mr. de Blasio is barred from seeking another Council term because of term limits and Mr. Markowitz is barred from another term as Borough President. Mr. de Blasio was elected to the City Council in 2001. He was Hillary Clinton's campaign manager in 2000 and served in the Dinkins Administration.

de Blasio has been raising his profile in the borough this year. He made the work of architect Robert Scarano an issue in the context of the 360 Smith Street development, calling on the state to strip Mr. Scarano of his certification and has organized "town hall" meetings in Carroll Gardens. He has also sponsored an electronics recycling measure that would be a model nationally. Mr. de Blasio has held a series of meetings with Brooklyn bloggers and online journalists to discuss his position on issues.

During a meeting last month at the Tea Lounge in Park Slope, Mr. de Blasio answered questions ranging from rezoning Carroll Gardens to his support of Atlantic Yards. At the time, he said he was still "looking" into a run for Borough President. "A lot could be done with that position to try to bring an approach to development that would mediate these issues," he said of the Borough presidency and quality of life issues related to construction and development.

"I think the world has changed a lot since the day Marty came into office," he said. "It feels like it was decades ago. The next borough presidents is going to deal with increasing challenges."

Barack Obama's Bed-Stuy Supporters Hosting Debate Party

GL got an email from Dan Lavoie at Bed-Stuy for Obama about the the Democratic Debate Watching parties the organization is having. The group is an organization of (obviously) Bed-Stuy Obama supporters. The first viewing party is at 8:30PM on June 28. The debate itself is being hosted by Tavis Smiley and broadcast from Howard University, and will focus on African-American issues. The parties are at Common Grounds, 376 Tompkins, which is between Putnam and Jefferson, and at Bread Stuy, which is at 403 Lewis Ave. Both cafes are just off the Kingston/Throop stop on the C Train. For details you can check out the group's web page. And for more info, you can email bedstuy (at) brooklynforbarack (dot) org.